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GHSA Basketball, Girls Basketball

Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Preview

Sandy's Spiel Showcase

1:30:  No. 8 ELCA (11-2) vs. North Cobb (13-6)

After dealing with players being in and out of the line early in the season, No. 8 ELCA has hit a groove, winning 7-straight heading into the Sandy’s Spiel Showcase. Clemson-signee Weronika Hipp remains one of Georgia’s top guards averaging 17.2 points and 4.2 assists while Eagle’s Landing transfer Jalisa Dunlap has provided scoring at 18.9 points per game. The 5-foot-10 guard has received interest from MTSU and Mercer. 5-foot-8 junior Keslynn Oxendine is working her way back from an ACL injury and is a third scoring threat. Much like ELCA, North Cobb is finding its stride as well. All six of their losses have come against ranked opponents. Lacking size, the Warriors rely on an experienced backcourt led by Alabama A&M-signee Azonya Austin (14 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg). Sharpshooting 5-foot-7 senior Sydney Thomas leads the Warriors in scoring at 16 points per game to go with her 4 rebounds and 2.5 steals. 5-foot-7 senior Madison Edge averages 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while 5-foot-8 sophomore Dayuna Colvin chips in 7.5 points a night.

3:00: ELCA (6-8) vs. No. 8 GAC (12-6)

After being state title contenders a year ago, ELCA losing in the Class A-Private title game while GAC was bounced by rival and eventual state champion Morgan County in the Class 3A Sweet 16, both programs were decimated by graduation but have found ways to still compete at a high level. ELCA has turned to 6-foot-7 Rider-signee Jordan Smalls and blossoming 6-foot-8 big man Izzy Momodu to carry the load from the frontcourt while the Spartans use guards 6-foot-2 senior Cliff Baskerville (18 ppg) and 6-foot-2 junior LaMarr Randolph (15 ppg) to pace the offense. 6-foot-5 sophomore Josh Fulton averages 20 points per game but has missed six weeks due to injury. Veteran 6-foot-5 wing Cole Perusek has offers from Oglethorpe and Sewanee.

4:30: Hart County (9-9) vs. No. 1 Douglass (12-5)

The recipe for success last season in Douglass’ march to a Class 2A state title was playing a brutal non-region schedule to prepare them for the rigors of the state tournament. Coach Alana Allen has followed the same blueprint this year and after a challenging start to the year, finds themselves atop the poll in Class 2A and undefeated in region play. 6-foot-3 senior Ikenya King anchors the Astros inside averaging 16 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. She just earned offers from Tallahassee CC and South Georgia Tech. 5-foot-5 senior Kayla Sesberry has had a breakout year averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while shooting 40% from deep. 5-foot-10 junior Ashuntee Weems is a high-upside guard averaging 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Ashley McKee rounds out the offense, a 5-foot-9 senior that chips in 8 points per game. Like how Douglass lost star Nekiyah Thompson (Jacksonville State), Hart County graduated Class 3A Player of the Year Torrion Starks. It will be a must-see matchup in the low post as 6-foot junior Taniya Alexander, already part of the 1,000-point & 1,000-rebound club, will battle with King inside. Alexander averages 17 points and 15 rebounds per game and has had D-I interest. 5-foot-7 senior Shakendra Grove will be important for Coach Mike Edwards. The long-range sniper is averaging 14 points per game, hitting 33% from deep.

6:00: No. 6 Hart County (17-1) vs. No. 8 Evans (13-3)

Both programs come off their best seasons in years as Hart County fell in the Class 3A title game following a 24-8 campaign while Evans ripped off a 24-5 record in Class 6A, their best in over a decade before losing to state runner-up Tucker in double overtime in the Sweet 16. All eyes will be on the matchup between 6-foot-4 junior Shone “Spud” Webb of Hart County and 6-foot-2 senior Christian Chambers. Webb has blossomed into the go-to guy for Hart County, posting 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists while doubling as a defensive stopper. Chambers is one of the CSRA’s best players and a top unsigned senior in Georgia, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals with offers from Fort Valley State, Columbus State, Maryville and Chattahoochee Valley CC. Evans will have to slow down burgeoning star 6-foot-7 freshman Tahj Johnson who pitches in 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. 6-foot-1 senior Demetrius Glenn is a deep-threat that averages 9.5 points to space out the Hart County offense. Evans has blue-collar guards in 5-foot-10 junior Joshton Mincey (12.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-foot-1 sophomore Brasen James (9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Alaska move-in 6-foot-3 junior Rashad King (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg).

7:30: Elbert County (12-6) vs. Lanier (10-9)

The defending Class 6A state champion Lanier Longhorns were derailed by graduation and injuries this offseason but are starting to click at the right time and are a legitimate threat to win Region 8 again after losing to No. 4 Dacula twice in heartbreaking fashion, 51-47 and 45-42. One of the hottest prospects in the southeast before her injury, 6-foot-3 high-academic senior center Christabel Ezumah, is back averaging 5.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with a host of D-I/II offers. Twin tower 6-foot-1 Lizzie Campbell, who also dealt with injuries in the offseason, holds offers from Shorter, Truett McConnell, Johnson and Lincoln Memorial. She averages 5.5 points, 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. 5-foot-8 senior Morgan Manley (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) has stepped up in a big way while 5-foot-6 senior Zuriyah Davis has shouldered the load offensively, posting 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Elbert County’s lone college-signee Maggie Campbell is headed to Anderson but re-tore her ACL. A young group of freshmen have had Elbert County playing exceptional basketball, making the future in Elberton extremely bright for Coach Josh Jones. Freshman Aaniyah Allen leads the way with 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals. Freshman Niya Moon averages 11.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while third-leading scorer, also a freshman, Terrace Hester scores 9.1 points on average.

9:00:  Elbert County (6-12) vs. St. Anne-Pacelli (10-7)

The graduation of eight seniors off last year’s Class 2A 28-4 semifinalist has Coach Don Hurlburt playing a young and inexperienced team that will rely on energy and toughness to win games. Senior DJ Ardister, junior Jaelin Webb and sophomore Jamil Burton are three players to watch for. St. Anne-Pacelli, much like Elbert County has since Hurlburt took over, has improved every season under Coach Corry Black. After a humbling 0-22 season in 2016-17, the Vikings have clawed their way back to relevancy with a 5-21 mark in 2017-18 before finishing 13-14 a year ago. Sitting at 6-5 in Region 4-A, the next step isn’t just finishing above .500 but making the state playoffs. A large 2021 class has the Vikings set up for the future led by bouncy 6-foot-5 wing Travis Harper (19.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and skilled 6-foot-5 forward Ian Mathews (17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg). The addition of equally explosive highlight-maker 6-foot-3 junior Keyshawn Fleetion makes St. Anne-Pacelli must-see tv.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

No. 8 Elbert County withstands 11 three-pointers to sweep No. 9 Banks County, 61-56

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No. 8 Elbert County 61, No. 9 Banks County 56

Wins don’t come easy in Homer, Georgia for opponents that enter the jungle. Heading into Tuesday’s Region 8-AA Top 10 clash, No. 9 Banks County (18-4, 7-2) held an 11-1 record at home and a 34-5 mark over the past three seasons in their friendly confines, often covered in blue. The defending region champs welcomed in No. 8 Elbert County (19-3, 9-1) as the two teams held a share of first-place with the Blue Devils defending their homecourt back on January 5th with a 61-50 win, jolting Elbert County into the rankings. After finishing 14-15 (6-6) in Year 1 under longtime Etowah head coach Don Hurlburt, the upstart Blue Devils have taken on Hurlburt’s style of play and have found success and swagger. But to officially announce themselves as the team to beat, they would have to find a way to win in Banks County, where they lost 65-47 and 52-45 a season ago.

It was a slow start for both teams offensively as Banks County’s 3-2 zone forced Elbert County into lengthy possessions, typically upwards of 10 to 15 passes before the Blue Devils could take a shot, but even then, there were no promises it would be a good look. Elbert was tentative in attacking and getting all the way to the basket due to 6-foot-7 shot-blocker Dylan Orr lurking in the paint and the Leopards’ team defense, Gaitlin Lunsford drawing two of Banks County’s five charges in the opening quarter.

Carl Cleveland opened the scoring for the Leopards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore and coach’s son, drilled two threes while Orr provided a lefty hook off the glass to give Banks a 10-8 lead after 8 minutes.

Elbert County edged ahead at the 4:34 mark, 14-13, behind an AJ James bucket in the paint.

With a major size advantage inside, Coach Mike Cleveland wanted to play inside out. Carl spun in the lane and dumped down an assist to Orr.

Soon after, Orr returned the favor by drawing a crowd on the block and swinging it to an open Cleveland for a three to take a 20-16 lead.

Banks’ cushion didn’t last long as the Blue Devils closed the half on a 7-0 spurt to regain a 23-20 lead. Lefty Jacquavious Ramsey scored five points in the quarter while Jamison Syphore’s activity on defense gave Elbert the late advantage.

Only Cleveland, Orr and point guard Darius Bonds scored in the first half for the Leopards while Elbert County saw five players crack the scoring column.

Banks County quickly took back the lead at the 6:18 mark up 25-23 following a Gabe Martin trifecta. Elbert County, not panicked, tightened up their full court press with junior guard Ty Hill picking up the pressure on Bonds, collecting two steals and an assist while James, who scored 22 points in their first meeting, knocked down a three as the Blue Devils took their largest lead of the game on an 11-0 run, 34-25, before a Cleveland three sliced the lead back down to six with 3:20 remaining in the third.

With the deficit nearing double digits, the Leopards came out of their zone and attempted to match up man-to-man, an advantage for the quicker Blue Devils. But while the defense was leaking points, Bonds made up for it with three threes in the frame, cutting the lead to 36-34 with 1:18 to play.

Elbert County, who hit only three three-pointers on the night, received an answer from Jaqirus Harris right before the horn to nurse a 41-37 lead into the final quarter.

Both student sections were on their feet and the crowd in full throat as first-place in Region 8 came down to the wire. The Blue Devils pushed ahead in front of their raucous fan base to take a 47-40 lead with 5:16 to play.

Ramsey and Kobe Gaudelock found life easier with Banks County out of their zone, combining for nine points in the quarter, but it was James who did the heavy lifting for the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-4 junior scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the final frame, working the post and getting to the line, going 7-of-8 from the stripe.

Always dangerous with the three-ball, hitting 11 for the game, Banks County still had life as they crept closer on Martin’s second of the night, bringing the score to 51-47 with 2:50 left.

Down to 1:29 remaining on the clock, the Leopards began fouling trailing 55-49, but the Blue Devils were 6-of-6 from the line in the quarter at that point. The strategy began to work as Elbert went 6-of-12 in the final 89 seconds and three Martin free throws had the score at 56-52 at the 1:15 mark.

Banks County’s last chance to make things interesting came with 29.5 seconds to play when a Bonds three-pointer was half way down before popping out, which nearly made it a two-point game, but instead the score read 57-52 with Ramsey heading to the line to help ice it and secure a season sweep for Elbert County.

My Take

Class AA is probably my favorite classification to cover. Small school basketball with the vast majority of the kids growing up through the pipeline. The atmosphere at Banks County is unlike any other with the gym packed from the opening tip of the girls game to the final buzzer of the boys game. The strong tie to the community is apparent as little Leopards watched their favorite players and knowledgably cheered them on.

But on Tuesday, it was Elbert County’s night. The Blue Devils don’t jump off the court with major size, with AJ James their tallest at 6-foot-4, but the effort and tenacity are there. They battled the bigger Leopards and after landing a few body blows throughout, finally knocked out the defending region champs, sweeping the season series. Elbert was extremely patient and almost shy when probing the Banks County 3-2 zone. It took them a while to adjust, but they did. Instead of forcing up bad shots, they were content with swinging the ball around until they got an open look. James was the man inside and provided physicality and toughness in the post. Jamison Syphore is very active and rebounds well for his size, collecting 11 on the night. Elbert County doesn’t have a ton of floor spacers, hitting three threes as Kobe Gaudelock, one of their best shooters who had 18 points in their first meeting, was held to six points. Elbert will likely be more of a by-committee three-point shooting team with a handful of players able to knock one down here and there. Once Banks County came out of their zone, Elbert County’s athleticism took over and they were able to find much easier looks. The Blue Devils’ press really exploited Banks County’s lack of ball handlers outside of Darius Bonds. As a team, Elbert County came away with 12 steals.

Banks County drilled 11 threes at home but still lost – a tough pill to swallow. Carl Cleveland came out firing, hitting four from deep to finish with a team-high 18 points along with Bonds who also drilled four. Dylan Orr was a non-factor in the second half, held to zero points and two rebounds after posting seven points and six rebounds in the first half. Orr plays above the rim and blocks shots, but he went 1-of-6 at the foul line and was unable to impose his will. North Georgia Head Coach Chris Faulkner was in to see him. Darius Bonds shot the ball extremely well from deep. He has a ton of pressure on him to handle the ball handling duties and Elbert County’s Ty Hill and Tay Huff really dug into him in the third quarter and forced some turnovers. Banks County’s zone was very effective, but once pulled out of it, there were some holes. Their ability to draw charges makes their zone that much more effective, but when in man, it’s harder to be in position to take them on the chest. Banks County has been dinged up with injuries this year but are getting healthy at the right time and will be a tough team to beat if they can clinch home court advantage.

Top Performers

Elbert County
AJ James – 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
Jacquavious Ramsey – 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
Ty Hill – 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 4 steals
Jamison Syphore – 8 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Banks County
Darius Bonds – 18 points (4 threes), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Carl Cleveland – 18 points (4 threes), 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Gabe Martin – 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Dylan Orr – 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks